Born the son of James Saunders of Bridgwater, Somerset, Saunders joined the
Royal Navy in October 1727. He initially served as a
midshipman on the
sixth-rate and then transferred to the
fourth-rate in March 1731. Promoted to
lieutenant on 8 November 1734, he was posted to the fourth-rate in July 1738 and then transferred to the
third-rate in June 1739, to the fourth-rate in August 1739 and to the fourth-rate in November 1742. Promoted to
post-captain in June 1743 (with an effective date of 26 September 1741), Saunders was given command of the fourth-rate in December 1743, the
fifth-rate in December 1744 and the fourth-rate in 1745. He went on to take command of the fourth-rate in 1747 and led her in action at the
Second Battle of Cape Finisterre in October 1747 during the
War of the Austrian Succession. After that he became captain of the third-rate later that year and of the fourth-rate in 1749. Saunders was appointed Commodore in charge of the squadron at
Newfoundland with his
broad pennant in the fifth-rate in February 1752. He went on to be treasurer of
Greenwich Hospital in February 1754 and
Comptroller of the Navy in December 1755. Saunders was
Member of Parliament for
Plymouth from 1750 to 1754 and then represented the
Yorkshire borough of
Hedon from 1754 until his death. ==Seven Years' War==